Fubo Readies New ‘Fubo Free’ Tier, but Not Everyone Will Have Access
While other companies have launched free tiers in recent years, Fubo will initially limit who can watch Fubo Free to those with an existing relationship with the streamer.
In March, Fubo CEO David Gandler made an under-the-radar reference to a forthcoming free tier on his sports-focused live TV streaming service while discussing the company’s 2023 fourth-quarter earnings report. At the time, few details were presented other than that the free streamer would be focused on keeping customers engaged — both in terms of viewing time and revenue — in times when subscribers often leave the service following the football season. However, The Streamable can now confirm that the service will be known as Fubo Free and will be available to consumers in a matter of weeks. However, initially, it will only be available to customers with a previous relationship with Fubo.
Key Details:
- The Streamable has confirmed that Fubo Free is slated to launch “in the coming weeks.”
- Initially, the free tier will only be available to former Fubo subscribers.
- There will be over 100 channels available on the free tier at launch.
While appearing at the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on Monday, Gandler further discussed the launch of Fubo’s free streaming tier indicating that it would be available later this year and that one of its main purposes was to help fight churn and keep people engaged with the platform even after they unsubscribe in the offseason. However, there are many other additional benefits to the launch as well.
“One of the problems that we’re dealing with is the fact that we have a very expensive product, the best in class, in my view, but all of those people that are coming in seasonally they churn,” Gandler said. “So the idea is, we’ve already paid the acquisition cost, why not attempt to keep people within the ecosystem? And so, if we can create a service that can dynamically keep people engaged during the off-season, that allows us to recirculate traffic, drive revenue [and] engagement, and also, obviously, create even more data than we have around our customer base, why would we want to do that?”
While Gandler did provide details on the goals behind the free service, there were no concrete details shared about when the new ad-supported platform would be available for customers. However, The Streamable has been able to confirm that Fubo’s Free tier will be available in the very near future.
“We expect to launch the first version of the Free tier in the coming weeks,” a Fubo spokesperson told The Streamable. “Iteration of the offering will be ongoing, so consumers will continue to see an improved product and even more content.”
Earlier this week, Gandler indicated that Fubo Free would include the “nearly 160 FAST channels we have launched since 2022,” but the streamer’s spokesperson was only able to confirm that the free tier would include “more than 100 FAST channels.” While Fubo was not able to provide a list of the channels that will be available upon launch, it was able to confirm that the company’s owned-and-operated Fubo Sports channel will be included. The free channel, which is currently available on Fubo as well as other ad-supported platforms, hit record viewership levels earlier this year. Sticking with the flagship streamer’s sports focus, Fubo Free will also include a select number of premium UEFA games.
Additionally, we have also confirmed that, unlike many other media companies, Fubo will not make this new ad-supported tier available to everyone. Instead, Fubo Free will focus on consumers who are — or previously have been — a part of the streamer’s ecosystem. Similar platforms like Sling Freestream, Amazon’s Freevee, Paramount’s Pluto TV, and Fox’s Tubi are available to any and all viewers, but at launch, that won’t be the case for Fubo’s free tier.
“Initially available only to former subscribers and free trial users who did not convert,” the spokesperson told The Streamable. “Fubo Free is housed within our premium experience, differentiating it from other free TV options.”
Since the channels that will make up Fubo Free are already available to the platform’s paid subscribers, they will not need access to the free tier in order to enjoy them.
Gandler said on Monday that while other media companies are increasingly looking to become their own app stores, Fubo is focused on becoming an aggregator. Fubo told The Streamable that it is aiming to meet consumers where they are by offering aggregated bundles at varying price points that satisfy everyone’s individual viewing and budgetary needs. The company intends to bring together elements of FAST, ad-supported video-on-demand (AVOD), pay-per-view, and live TV to ensure that its customers can watch video the way that they want.
“There is a lot to enjoy with Fubo,” the spokesperson said, “and we intend to deliver multiple content and product options, letting consumers choose the Fubo experience that’s right for them and at a fair price.”
Fubo
Fubo is a live TV streaming service with about 90 top channels that start at $79.99 per month. This plan includes local channels, 19 of the top 35 cable channels, and regional sports networks (RSNs). In total, you should expect to pay about $94.99 per month, after adding in their RSN Fee. Fubo was previously known as “fuboTV.”